Hakeem Nicks: Toe feeling good

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While he might be optimistic about returning for the start of training camp, Hakeem Nicks said he has no doubt that he will be ready for the New York Giants' season opener.

"I don't have any doubt," the Giants' top wide receiver said Thursday in a conference call with reporters.

Nicks said his surgically repaired broken toe is feeling good and that he hopes to beat the 12-week timetable for recovery given by the team. He underwent surgery on the fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot last Friday after suffering the injury the day before.

The Giants report to training camp July 26 at the University at Albany and Nicks might not be back until mid-August. He told coach Tom Coughlin, however, that his goal was to be back by the start of camp.

He is certain that he will be ready for the opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 5.

"The doctor said he had people come back as early as four weeks, six weeks to eight weeks," Nicks said. "My goal is always to come back early. We just don't want any setbacks."

Nicks has spoken with teammates like Ahmad Bradshaw, Prince Amukamara and Domenik Hixon, who have all had similar injuries. Hixon said he needed about three months to recover from a fractured fifth metatarsal before his rookie year.

Last season, Amukamara broke a toe at the start of training camp in early August and missed the first nine games of the season.

"I'm walking around pretty good right now," said Nicks, who is in a walking boot. "It is still early. It is just a matter of me being patient and making sure I do all the right things and taking care of my body."

"Obviously, if I feel something wrong running, I am going to listen to my body and I am going to be smart," he added. "My first day back, I am not going to jump in and do the whole practice."

Nicks hopes to begin cardio work in the pool and on the elliptical in about a week. Quarterback Eli Manning and Nicks say it won't be hard getting their timing back once the receiver is ready to practice.

"I don't think it will be too hard," Nicks said. "I know the plays and I know the offense. It is going to be a matter of getting my wind back and being able to put together 10-to-12-play drives without being fatigued. I think I will be good."

"I don't have any worries about it," he added. "It is a minor setback."

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Ohm Youngmisuk

ESPNNewYork.com

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Ohm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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